Reading Incentive Programs Julie Foote

1. Title Trekking Reading Incentive ProgramsJulie Foote

2. Reading incentive programs… • Promote reading! • Encourage kids to read for pleasure outside of school • Allows for healthy competition between students • Typically consist of: • A list of acceptable and suggested books • A form of assessment to make sure kids are doing the reading • A tracking system • Recognition and/or a set of rewards

3. Things to Consider How do you motivate good readers to keep reading? How do you get reluctant readers to participate? Attitude vs. behaviors Established program vs. custom program How do you keep kids reading after the rewards stop?

4. Pizza Hut BOOK IT! National Reading Incentive Program • www.bookitprogram.com • Started in 1985 • Over 10 million K-6 students participate each year • Runs from October through March every school year • Promotes reading in school and at home • Teachers set goals for each student individually

5. Pizza Hut BOOK IT! • “Motivate children to read by rewarding their reading accomplishments with praise, recognition, and fun!” • Teachers work with students to set goals for each month • Goals can be set for either the number of books, number of pages, or number of minutes spent reading • Each month that the goal is met, students receive reward certificates provided by Pizza Hut • Students bring certificates to any Pizza Hut for a free Personal Pan Pizza, backpack clip, and BOOK IT! card • Pizza Hut manager and staff congratulate each student that shows their reward certificate • Students that meet their goals every month receive special prizes at the end of the program

6. Pizza Hut BOOK IT! • Pros • Individual goals allow students to read at their own pace and level • Students get to choose what books to read • Students can celebrate their achievement with their family once a month • Cons • Rewards reading with food • Extra work for the teacher or librarian • Similar Programs • McDonald’s “All-American Reading Challenge” • Toys ‘R’ Us “Geoffrey’s Reading Railroad”

8. Get Caught Reading Sponsored by Association American Publishers • Nationwide program intended to remind all readers that reading is FUN! • Celebrity involvement shows kids that reading is fun and cool • Embraced by teachers and librarians across the country • May is Get Caught Reading month but the program can be promoted all year round

9. Get Caught Reading No physical reward for reading Students get excited by seeing posters of their favorite singers, actors, athletes, and characters acting as reading role models Teachers or librarians can create Get Caught Reading posters of people in their school community to promote reading within and outside the school Completely flexible program – children are encouraged to read any books or magazines No quizzes to fill out, no journal entries to write – the focus is solely on the joy of reading www.getcaughtreading.org

10. Get Caught Reading • Cons • No formal program structure • No way to know if students are actually reading • Program website does not provide reading suggestions • Pros • Students have positive reading role models • Students are inspired to read, not bribed • Freedom to choose what they’d like to read • No quizzes • No required journals or book logs • Anticipation or hope of being in their own Get Caught Reading poster

11. Title Trekking Reading incentive program created by a librarian at North Country School

12. Title Trekking • Idea inspired by climbers in the Adirondacks • 46 peaks, 46 books • Aims to instill a lifelong passion for reading in each student • Works in tandem with the school curriculum, focusing on popular books • Follows private school students from grade 4 through graduation (9th grade) • One set of books for the whole school that is updated twice a year

13. Title Trekking • “Lower elevations” are easier, “higher elevations” for Young Adult or Adult books • Does not assign a grade level to any book so that students are encouraged to choose any title within their limits • Students can read them during the school year or over the summer • Every accomplishment is posted in the library and in the English classrooms • Students must make an entry in their Title Trekking journal after finishing a book

14. Students can earn prizes along the way – like restaurant gift certificates, bookstore gift certificates – as extra incentive • At the end of each year, librarian holds a party for students who have read a certain number of books. • Small group of “Literary 46’ers” • As of 2006, only 14 students (and a few teachers) had accomplished the goal in the program’s 16 years history Title Trekking

15. Title Trekking • Cons • If a student is only interested in one genre, they’ll be hesitant to branch out • Journaling • Lots of work for librarians • Struggle to publicize and entice • Pros • Allows students to read at their own pace and set their own goals • One list of ”popular” books engages all interests • Program tailored to the student body • Encourages students to try different genres and styles • Gives students a sense of accomplishment • Competition and challenge

16. Typical Results of Reading Incentive Programs -- Generally increases the amount of reading done by students -- May result in reading for speed and results instead of reading for pleasure, understanding, and gaining of knowledge

17. Other Reading Incentive Programs • Let’s Read. Let’s Move. • Reach Out and Read • Book Adventure • Accelerated Reader • Read Across America • Junior Great Books • Books Program • McDonald’s “All-American Reading Challenge” • Toys ‘R’ Us “Geoffrey’s Reading Railroad” • Battle of the Books • Book Fairs

18. Sizzling Summer Reading Programs for Young Adults by Katharine L. Kan – Provides 50 examples of successful summer reading programs that public libraries across the country have implemented. • The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller – An inspiring book written by a middle school reading teacher. Gives advice on how to turn any child into an avid reader by matching them with books that interest and excite them so they’ll want to read on. • Reviving Reading: School Library Programming, Author Visits, and Books that Rock! By Alison M.G. Follos -- A private school librarian writes about her experience getting kids to read. Provides advice and suggestions for fellow librarians on how to implement long-term reading activities, host visiting authors, and fundraise. • ** Title Trekking More Resources